Allerdale

Allerdale's population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census also show there were changes in average age, marriage and religion.

The population passed 96,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Allerdale increased by 3.1%, from just under 93,500 to 96,400.

The addition of just over 2,900 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Allerdale was home to, on average, 0.56 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the North West's third-least densely-populated district.

Population density was lower than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Allerdale

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Allerdale increased by four years, from 41 to 45 years.

This remote area had a higher average age than the North West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 3,200 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 3,000.

About 14% of people in Allerdale are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Allerdale by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

Private renting increased in Allerdale, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas across England, except Isles of Scilly and Copeland.

Across the North West, the proportion of privately rented homes increased from 8.5% to 15% between the last two censuses, while the proportion in Copeland (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Allerdale) increased from 6.7% to 8.7%.

In 2011, just under 1 in 10 (9.8%) households in Allerdale rented privately, compared with 7.5% in 2001. The percentage of socially rented homes decreased from 21% to 19%.

England's largest decrease in the proportion of privately rented homes occurred in Isles of Scilly (from 32% to 30%) followed by Copeland (from 6.7% to 8.7%).

Because of its small size, comparisons to Isles of Scilly should be made with caution.

Private renting in Allerdale increased by 2.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Allerdale, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Allerdale

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Allerdale, but at a slower rate than across the North West.

In Allerdale, the proportion of single people increased from 24% in 2001 to 28% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 30% to 36%.

Across the North West, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 30% to 36%.

The proportion of married people in Allerdale fell from 56% to 52%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 9.4% to 11%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of Allerdale residents that were unemployed decreased from 3.9% to 3.6% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (53%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 50% in 2001. The percentage of Allerdale residents that were self-employed increased from 9.7% to 10%.

The proportion of unemployed people fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 3.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were unemployed across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Allerdale

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 17% said they had no religion. The figure increased from 17% in 2001

The number of people in Allerdale that described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 7,600 in 2001 to just under 17,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 8.2% to 17% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious affiliation.

The percentage increased at a similar rate to the average across the North West (from 10% to 20%), but at a slower rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Allerdale that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 80,000 in 2001 to just under 73,000 in 2011 (from 85% to 75%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just under 5,800 to just under 6,400 (from 6.2% to 6.6%).

Just under 230 people (0.1%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from about 110 in 2001 (0.2%).

The population without a religion in Allerdale increased by 9.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Allerdale by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Allerdale

The percentage of Allerdale residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.1% to 6.9% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 3.5%, while the percentage of Allerdale residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 89%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 7.0% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Allerdale

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 99% said they were from the White ethnic groups. The figure increased from 99% in 2001

The number of people in Allerdale from the White ethnic groups increased from just under 93,000 in 2001 to about 95,000 in 2011. As a share of the local population, the percentage remained close to 99%.

Across the North West, the percentage of people from this ethnic group fell from 94% to 90%, while across England the percentage went from 91% to 85%.

The number of people in Allerdale from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 240 in 2001 to about 480 in 2011 (from 0.3% to 0.5%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 230 to about 430 (from 0.3% to 0.4%).

About 73 people (0.1%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 45 in 2001 (0.1%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Allerdale remained close to 99%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Allerdale by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Allerdale residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 10% to 6.3% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (79%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 67% in 2001. The percentage of Allerdale residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23% to 15%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Allerdale decreased by 3.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Allerdale, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Allerdale working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 13% to 9.9% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.5%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.7% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 8.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Allerdale decreased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Allerdale, the North West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes without children

The percentage of households without children increased in Allerdale at a faster rate than across England.

In Allerdale, the proportion of households without children increased from 61% in 2001 to 64% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 61% to 61%.

Across the North West, the share of households without children increased from 59% to 61%.

The proportion of households with children in Allerdale fell from 28% to 26%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 11% to 10%.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across the North West

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Allerdale, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 6.6% to 8.8% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (31%) households had only one person, compared with 29% in 2001. The percentage of households in Allerdale which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 41% to 36%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 7.9% in 2001 to 9.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Allerdale increased by 2.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Allerdale, the North West and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Allerdale residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.3% to 1.5% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 1.3% in 2001 to 1.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Allerdale remained close to 1.5%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Allerdale by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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